Prior to the Croatia-Sweden friendly match at the Varaždin Arena, the emotional prelude overshadowed the actual game. Captain Ivan Martinović, known as "the cowboy," raised a jersey with the number 17 and the surname Šarac, showing strong support for his teammate and friend, Josip Šarac. The audience erupted in thunderous applause, uniting the entire arena in thoughts for the 28-year-old handball player who is facing the most challenging fight of his life.

In late April, the handball community was shocked by the news that Josip Šarac, a beloved left winger, had been diagnosed with acute leukemia. His former club, German team Göppingen, was the first to announce the news, emphasizing that his recovery was the top priority over sports.

Josip Šarac's path has never been easy. In 2020, he achieved a dream come true when he won silver at the European Championship with Croatia and was named the best young handball player in Europe. This achievement, along with his reception in his hometown of Ljubuški, remains the dearest moment of his career. However, his journey has been interrupted by numerous significant hurdles.

Before the European Championship, he battled mononucleosis and a severe cruciate ligament injury, followed by another ligament injury in 2021. He always returned stronger. After playing in Germany, he moved to Hungarian Tatabánya last year, scoring 27 goals in his first nine matches. In October, he broke his hand, and then came the shock of his diagnosis. Nevertheless, those who know him recognize him as an indomitable fighter, and his teammates' gesture is a testament to how highly valued he is in the handball community, which awaits his greatest victory yet.

- This was a win for Josip. We came together and gave even more strength for him. We wish him a lot of strength in the fight against his illness, and we believe we will play many more matches with him for the national team when he returns. It's great to beat Sweden after so many years, but this was a win for Josip Šarac, who is fighting acute leukemia, stated the captain Ivan Martinović.